Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 release date, price, news and leaks

Samsung is back at its peak in the smartwatch game as the company is making some of the best smart wristwear that money can buy with its best-in-class Samsung Galaxy Watch, and 2019’s impressive Samsung Galaxy Watch Active.

Now, here’s the weird thing – Samsung has often released a new smartwatch in August of each year, but the last 12 months have proven different as it released the Galaxy Watch Active in February around six months after the original Galaxy Watch.

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We’re nearing the year anniversary of the launch of the Galaxy Watch, but instead of releasing a Galaxy Watch 2, it seems Samsung is instead planning to release a sequel to the Watch Active.

We had expected Samsung to offer two lines of watches; one with top-end features and a high price tag, the other a little slimmed down but still offering lots for anyone who doesn’t want to spend as much.

That idea may have gone out the window though with lots of leaks and rumors suggesting we’ll be seeing the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 around six months after the original was released.

It seems August 7 may be the big day where we’ll hear about Samsung’s next smartwatch, and below we’re going to talk you through everything we know about it so far.

Our guide to the best Samsung watches you can buy right now

Cut to the chase

What is it? This may be Samsung’s next big smartwatch

When is it out? Possibly August 7

What will it cost? Probably around $200 / £229 / AU$348

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 release date and price

The original Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Samsung’s original Galaxy Watch Active was announced in February 2019 alongside the Galaxy S10 smartphone line, so often we wouldn’t expect to see a follow-up product until a full year later.

Rumors suggest we’ll be seeing it much before then with multiple sources claiming it’ll be introduced alongside the Galaxy Note 10 on August 7. That’s at Samsung’s own Unpacked event, where we may also get a glimpse of the company’s Galaxy Tab S6 tablet.

If that is the case, we will likely see Samsung release the watch to retailers – and therefore wrists – before the end of August this year.

There’s no gurantee that will be the case though, as it would make more sense for Samsung to introduce a new variant of its Galaxy Watch first. We’d initially expected that to be called the Samsung Galaxy Watch 2, but we won’t know anything for certain until August 7.

As for price, we’d expect it to be a similar amount to the Galaxy Watch Active that launched at around $199.99 / £229 / AU$348.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 leaks and rumors

If you’re going to know about one leak of the Galaxy Watch Active 2, you’ll likely want see the leaked press image that you can see below.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is an upcoming smartwatch that has yet to be announced. However, it has already been the subject of a number of leaks including the surfacing of real-life images….

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It comes from Android Headlines and shows a device that looks remarkably similar to the original Galaxy Watch Active. You can see the two buttons on the right edge and a circular screen that lacks a rotating bezel.

There are a few little differences from the original Galaxy Watch Active that the eagle-eyed among you may have spotted. The power button has a red ring around it on this edition, which we assume is a way of distinguishing it from the original device in a similar way to what Apple did on the crown of its Apple Watch 3.

The Apple Watch 3 with its red accented crown

(Image credit: Apple)

The leaked image also seems to show a leather strap rather than a silicone one, but considering this is a sporty watch we’d assume there will be a silicone option for your wrist as well.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen that leaked design either. The video below from SamMobile shows the same design, lending credence to both leaks and meaning these may both prove accurate come launch day.

The SamMobile video does come with some extra detail though, where the sources the site spoke to claimed that an LTE version of the watch will be available at launch.

That’s a feature the company didn’t see fit to include on the original Galaxy Watch Active, so you were restricted to Wi-Fi to be able to connect to the internet on your device.

Although it’s difficult to tell from the photos, it seems the Galaxy Watch Active 2 may also come in two different sizes. Those are said to be 40mm and 44mm, which is a change from the original that only launched in 40mm.

It’s not as big as the 46mm version of the Galaxy Watch, but it’s still a step up that may make this a more appropriate device for those with larger wrists without alienating anyone looking for a smaller device.

The original Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Away from the design, it’s expected the Galaxy Watch Active 2 will come with some top-end features that are currently only available on the Apple Watch and a few other smaller name devices.

One of those is an ECG monitor that was first reported by SamMobile and later backed up by sources speaking to Wareable.

That would mark the first time Samsung has introduced the tech to a smartwatch, which was first included on a consumer product in the Apple Watch 4 late last year.

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that can detect an irregular heartbeat, which can be a sign of a variety of different heart problems including atrial fibrillation.

According to Wareable’s report, the feature will be included on the watch but you shouldn’t expect to be able to use it at launch. It’s thought the company won’t be able to activate the feature until early 2020, and it may be a longer wait for other markets too.

It’s also expected to introduce fall detection tech that can prove useful for older people.

That same report also gives more evidence of there being an LTE version alongside a Wi-Fi only variant and a third Under Amour-branded variant as well. According to the report it’ll come with more fitness features, but exactly what those will be are currently unclear.

We’d expect to see returning features from the original watch including Tizen software, Bixby support, a 24/7 heart rate tracker, wireless charging and an IP68 water-resistant design.

What we want to see

Before we see the new smartwatch from Samsung, we’ve had a think about what we’d like to see the company bring to its next-gen smartwatch.

An innovative bezel

Image 1 of 2

The Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm version)

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The original Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

(Image credit: Future)

The Samsung Galaxy Watch (46mm version)

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The original Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

(Image credit: Future)

One of the ways Samsung has slimmed down the Galaxy Watch for its Active model is by losing the rotating bezel. That’s all well and good, but it’s one of the few features that makes Samsung’s top-end watch unique.

Maybe Samsung can find a way to keep this easy to use functionality on the watch without the need for a super thick bezel. Perhaps a display that stretches to the edge and works in a similar way when you drag your finger around the outside.

We don’t know exactly how this’ll would work on the Galaxy Watch Active, but we’d like to see Samsung play around with a few ideas for its next smartwatch.

More storage

This is a simple one, and something we brought up in our review of the original Galaxy Watch Active. It just simply needs more storage so you can fill it full of more apps and music.

Currently you’re restricted to 4GB of data on the Galaxy Watch Active, so we’d love to see the company double that up to 8GB or perhaps – if it can find a way – squeeze in 16GB.

An LTE version

Another simple fix here considering the original Galaxy Watch was capable of an LTE connection, if you spent a bit extra, but we’d like to see the Galaxy Watch Active 2 introduce mobile internet.

This way you’d be able to keep using your watch even when your phone isn’t around, which is a big deal for anyone who wants to use it when out running.

Improvements to Bixby

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Bixby is nowhere near as useful as Google Assistant or Siri are on competing smartwatches, so we’d like to see the company step-up its voice assistant game in the coming months.

It’d be nice to hear about some new exclusive features for the Galaxy Watch line too.

An ECG monitor

It debuted on the Apple Watch 4, and while it’s not a feature you’ll use every day it feels like it’s nearly a must-have on a top-end smartwatch.

Alternatives like the Amazfit Verge 2 and Withings Move ECG will soon offer the feature too, so we’d love to see Samsung embrace the idea of an electrocardiogram on your wrist with its next smartwatch.

More style choices

The original color line up for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

(Image credit: Samsung)

The original Samsung Galaxy Watch Active came in four colors; black, silver, rose gold and Sea Green. That last one is a shade that’s nearing dark blue when you see it in person, and we’d like to see Samsung get a bit more experimental with its color options for the next watch.

Considering this is the cheaper alternative to the premium Samsung Galaxy Watch line, we’d love to see the company embrace that more and offer a variety of design choices with perhaps even bolder color options for people to choose from.